Effects of heat treatment on the tensile behavior and damage evolution of a 3D C/SiC composite

The tensile responses and the associated damage evolutions of a 3D C/SiC composite with and without heat treatment on the fiber preforms were compared. The results show that the composite without heat treatment exhibits a largely non-linear stress-strain behavior up to rupture as well as a lower strength and a strain-to-failure. The damage evolution characterized by acoustic emission indicates the composite failures in the region of matrix cracking multiplication. However, the composite with heat treatment has a larger strength and a strain-to-failure, and the damage evolution indicates that the composite had experienced the region of matrix cracking saturation and then fiber bundle pull-out just prior to final failure. Microstructural observations on the fractured specimens revealed the interfacial bonding between fibers and matrix becomes weaker after heat treatment.